Seth Macfarlane

Seth Woodbury MacFarlane was born on October 26, 1973, in Kent, Connecticut. His interest in illustration began at age two, leading him to draw cartoon characters. By age five, he aspired to a career in animation, creating flip books and later publishing a weekly comic strip, “Walter Crouton,” for his local newspaper, The Kent Good Times Dispatch. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, where his thesis film, “The Life of Larry,” served as an inspiration for “Family Guy.” After graduation, he was recruited by Hanna-Barbera Productions, working as an animator and writer on TV series such as “Johnny Bravo” and “Cow and Chicken,” and also contributed to Walt Disney Animation’s “Jungle Cubs.”

MacFarlane’s career trajectory significantly changed when executives at FOX offered him $50,000 to create a pilot for what would become “Family Guy,” which debuted in 1999. This success led him to create “American Dad!” (2005) and “The Cleveland Show” (2009-2013). Throughout his career, MacFarlane has expanded his roles to include actor, voice actor, producer, director, comedian, and singer. He wrote, directed, and starred in the films “Ted” (2012) and its sequel “Ted 2” (2015), along with “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (2014). His voice talents also featured as Mike in the animated musical “Sing” (2016).

Beyond animation, MacFarlane has developed a notable music career, signing a record deal with Universal Republic Records in 2010. His debut album, “Music Is Better Than Words” (2011), received Grammy nominations, showcasing his passion for big band and jazz standards. He released several more albums, including “Holiday for Swing” (2014) and “In Full Swing” (2017), which also earned Grammy nominations. In 2019, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2020, recognizing his extensive contributions to the entertainment industry.